Major restoration and improvement works underway at Godolphin Park

Work is under way to restore Salt Hill Stream and improve the surrounding green space at Godolphin Park as part of ‘Project Sponge’.

The project aims to strengthen the area’s natural resilience by improving water management, supporting wildlife and enhancing the quality of a well-used local park.

The restoration focuses on the grassed area between Salt Hill Stream and the neighbouring sports field.

The stream flows through parks and nearby neighbourhoods, and the changes are designed to manage heavy rainfall more effectively while improving water quality and reducing the risk of flooding locally and further downstream.

A key part of the work involves re-meandering the stream, ie, restoring the natural bends and curves that a river or stream would normally have.

Over time, many watercourses have been straightened, causing water to move too quickly through urban areas.

By restoring natural bends and curves, the project will slow the flow, create new habitat and make the stream more welcoming for visitors.

The reshaped channel is intended to help the park act more like a natural sponge during storms, hence ‘Project Sponge.’

Small wetland areas will also be created alongside the stream, good for wildlife. These shallow, planted sections will hold more water during wet weather and keep parts of the ground moist during hot spells.

The additional vegetation and standing water are expected to provide homes for birds, amphibians, insects and small mammals.

To make sure all is ticking along well, the team will record wildlife activity, water levels and soil quality. This will help them determine whether further adjustments are needed.

The park will remain open throughout the programme. While some small sections may be fenced off during construction, access will be maintained and disruption kept to a minimum, says Slough council.

The intention is to improve the existing landscape rather than reduce what is available to users.

Project Sponge is a programme led by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust in partnership with Slough Borough Council.

It is a wider initiative that supports community-led approaches to managing rainfall, improving natural habitats and preparing neighbourhoods for more frequent extreme weather.

The restoration is intended to both make the landscape more resilient and enhance the park experience and make it 'more attractive' for community use.

Ashish Patel, lead for Project Sponge, said: “We believe that our parks, streams and wetlands should serve local people and nature together.

“By restoring the Salt Hill Stream at Godolphin and Baylis Parks, and doing it with the community’s voice at the centre, we’re not just creating a more beautiful space, we’re building stronger, nature-rich ecosystems and a park that the whole neighbourhood can be proud of.”

The project will be working with residents to ensure changes in parks and open spaces reflect local needs and priorities.

A public consultation event for residents help co-design areas of Godolphin Park will take place at Herschel Grammar School on December 9 from 6.15pm to 8.45pm.